The business and culture of our digital lives, from the L.A. Times

Google puts the brakes on Street View in India after police complaints

June 21, 2011 | 11:57
am

Google has halted its Street View cars in Bangalore, India, after receiving police complaints about the company's 360-degree photo-snapping in the city.

According to Bangalore's Deccan Herald newspaper, Google received a letter from the city's police commissioner asking the search giant to park the camera-topped cars and tricycles, which take photos used in Google Maps Street View and the Google Earth app.

"We can confirm that we have received a letter from the commissioner of police regarding Street View," Google said in a statement sent to the Deccan Herald. "We are currently reviewing it and have stopped our cars until we have a chance to answer any questions or concerns the police have."

Google officials were unavailable to comment to the Technology blog on Tuesday morning. But in the past, the company has said that it plans to document India's other major cities with Street View cars after the mapping of Bangalore was complete, the Deccan Herald said.

The tech titan began its Street View efforts in Bangalore, home to some Indian military sites, in late May.

Google is working on finding a balance between its users' needs and governmental security concerns, said Vinay Goel, the company's head of products in India, according to the report.

"We recognize the sensitivity associated with certain locations and are committed to working with relevant stake holders to ensure that their concerns are addressed," Goel told the paper.